Bill to offer paid sick days for all N.J. workers to be debated by lawmakers

Updated October 9, 2014 at 11:28 AM;Posted October 9, 2014 at 7:01 AM

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On the steps of Trenton city hall, from left, Dena Mottola Jaborska, Director of Organizing and Strategic Program Development and executive director of New Jersey Citizen, Action, Analilla Mejia, executive director of the Working Families Party in New Jersey and Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman distribute over 2,200 petitions to be presented to Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson in favor of a statewide bill that would cover paid sick days for all NJ workers.
(Michael Mancuso/Times of Trenton)

TRENTON — Democrats who lead New Jersey’s Legislature today are kicking off an effort to make New Jersey one of the first states in the nation to give all workers access to paid sick days.

The state Assembly Labor Committee is scheduled to take up a bill (A2354) that has been marked as a priority by Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson), but that Gov. Chris Christie said he has "grave concerns" about.

Under the proposal, businesses with 10 or more employees would be required to let workers earn at least 72 hours of paid time off that they could use either to stay home when sick or care for ill family members. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees would be required to let their employees earn 40 hours of sick time.

A worker would earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked.

The hearing comes as liberal groups make individual pushes to get New Jersey cities to adopt sick leave ordinances. So far, they’ve succeeded in Jersey City, Newark, Paterson, Passaic, Irvington and East Orange. In Montclair and Trenton, voters will decide in ballot initiatives in Novemgsmartber whether to do the same.

“We want to make sure that workers are never fired for getting sick and can take of their families and themselves when they do become sick,” said Dena Mottola Jaborska, director of advocacy for NJ Citizen Action, which has helped lead the push. “And obviously it’s good for the health of a community when children can stay home with their parents when they’re sick, and adult people when they’re sick can stay out of the workplace so they don’t spread disease.”

Mottola said that nationally only 19 percent of workers who earn minimum wage or just above it get paid sick days.

Prieto said in August that he considered paid sick leave a priority and would push forward with the bill. Mottola Jaborska said Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) is also on board, but hasn’t given a timetable for passing the legislation.

But while the bill’s path through the Legislature appears smooth, Mottola Jaborska acknowledged that Republican Gov. Chris Christie is unlikely to sign it.

“I imagine we’re not in good shape there with a signature from the governor,” Mottola Jaborska said. "So you work at the local level to build momentum. You work in the Legislature to build strong support and leadership in the Legislature... And you keep building support around what you have until the window opens and you can go through it.”

A spokesman for Christie referred to comments he made in a September radio interview on 101.5 FM.

"I just think it’s another thing that makes New Jersey less competitive for businesses who are trying to create jobs and increases expenses," Christie said, adding that he was "willing to sit and listen to the Speaker."

Just two states — Connecticut and California — mandate paid sick leave for workers, while Massachuetts voters will decide on whether to mandate it in a November referendum.

Daryn Iwicki, state director for the conservative group Americans for Prosperity, said he thinks businesses should offer paid sick leave, if possible, to employees. He just don’t think it should be mandated.

“The concept we’re not opposed to. We’re not opposed to everyone having the opportunity or being afforded the opportunity to be paid for sick time,” Iwicki said. What we’re opposed to is the mandate. It’s all these mandates that come down from Trenton that just make it tougher to start businesses or operate businesses here in New Jersey.”

Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Union) said he doubts most Republicans — if any — will support the bill.

Bramnick, an attorney with his own firm, said he offers his own staff paid sick days.

“I’m sympathetic, I get it,” Bramnick said. “I’d like to give everyone as much sick time as they want, which I do in my law office. But I don’t believe this is the time to increase burdens on businesses.”